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A U.N. report found that 9.6% of traditionally female jobs were set to be transformed compared with 3.5% of those carried out by men as AI increasingly takes on administrative tasks.
BUSINESS / Tech
May 20, 2025

AI poses a bigger threat to women's work than men's, says U.N. report

Human involvement will still be required for many tasks — and roles are more likely to be radically changed rather than eliminated, the report said.
Rainmaker Mountain in Pago Pago, American Samoa
BUSINESS
May 21, 2025

Trump sets stage to sell ocean mining rights off American Samoa

There’s growing appetite in Washington for new domestic sources of critical minerals, following China’s decision to curb exports of rare-earth materials.
A worker handles photovoltaic cells at Irex Energy JSC's manufacturing facility in Vung Tau, Vietnam, on July 15, 2019. The U.S. International Trade Commission has concluded that solar cells and modules imported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam injure the domestic industry.
BUSINESS / Tech
May 21, 2025

U.S. clears way for tariffs on $13 billion of solar imports

The U.S. International Trade Commission has concluded that solar cells and modules imported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam injure the domestic industry.
It was reported that Malaysia would deploy 3,000 units of Huawei’s primary AI offering by 2026.
BUSINESS / Tech
May 21, 2025

Malaysia downplays Huawei deal as U.S. checks China’s AI reach

The move underscores the Asian nation’s delicate position in the U.S.-Chinese AI race.
The site of a rare earth metals mine in China
BUSINESS / Companies
May 23, 2025

Rare earth production outside China 'major milestone'

Lynas' announcement illustrates how much more needs to be done to broaden the supply of elements critical for electric vehicles and renewable technology.
A worker walks near a fishing vessel under maintenance at the Kidoura Zosen K.K. shipyard in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture.
BUSINESS
May 24, 2025

Japan looks to use U.S. shipbuilding cooperation as card in tariff talks

By highlighting its cooperative stance toward the United States, the Japanese government hopes to fend off U.S. tariffs.
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son has proposed setting up a U.S.-Japan sovereign wealth fund to make large investments in technology and infrastructure, according to the Financial Times.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 25, 2025

Softbank’s Son floats idea of U.S.-Japan sovereign wealth fund, report says

SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son has discussed the plan with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, although it hasn’t been formally proposed.
Japan may offer cooperation on shipbuilding expertise and an Alaska natural gas project as part of trade talks with the United States.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 26, 2025

Japan touts ships expertise and LNG investment, with tariff talks key

There is rising momentum in the negotiations as the U.S. tariffs threaten to drag Japan’s economy into a technical recession ahead of the Upper House election.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers a speech during the ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Forum's official dinner in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 28, 2025

China aims to capitalize on U.S. tariff turmoil with new ASEAN-GCC forum

The summit with Southeast Asian and Arab Gulf states is the latest sign of more countries looking to join hands to fend off U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff push.
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief tariff negotiator, will attend a fourth round of ministerial-level tariff talks in the United States on Friday.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 29, 2025

Japan offering fund to aid U.S. shipbuilding as part of tariff negotiations

The United States has called on allies including Japan to help revive U.S. shipbuilding, amid concerns over China's dominant share in the global market.
A Donald Trump 2024 campaign hat on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange
BUSINESS / Markets
May 29, 2025

'It’s called negotiation': Trump bristles at ‘TACO trade’ betting on him backing down

The acronym — which stands for Trump Always Chickens Out — was coined by a Financial Times columnist and has since been adopted by traders.
Agrolend CEO Andre Glezer (second from right), JICA Brazil Office chief Akihiro Miyazaki (far left) and others on Wednesday in Sao Paulo
BUSINESS / Companies
May 29, 2025

JICA signs deal to invest in Brazilian farming fintech firm

JICA hopes the investment will help ensure stable food procurement by Japan, which imports such crops as soybeans and corns from the South American agricultural giant.
Takanori Nishiyama, Japan manager of Keeper Security. Password managers can help thwart phishing attacks.
BUSINESS / FOCUS
May 30, 2025

Online brokerage account hijacks in Japan highlight need for login vigilance

Portfolios are being commandeered to manipulate the market for the benefit of the hacker.
TSMC’s plan to build a second factory in Kumamoto Prefecture is key to Japan’s ambitions to regain leadership in semiconductors.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 4, 2025

TSMC flags delays in Japan expansion while U.S. plans advance

The sudden influx of workers from TSMC’s first plant is already bogging down rural infrastructure in Japan.
Astroscale Holdings executives attend the company’s listing ceremony at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in June 2024.
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2025

Space-debris firm that saw shares surge 62% on IPO loses half its value

Excitement over Astroscale Holdings was riding high, but it's now the worst performer among Tokyo’s 10 biggest listings in the past year.
A Mercedes-Benz production line in Rastatt, Germany, earlier this month. European auto suppliers alone have filed hundreds of requests to China for rare earths since early April, with only about a quarter granted.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 6, 2025

The world's auto supply chain is in the hands of a few Chinese bureaucrats

China holds a near-monopoly on rare earth magnets — a crucial component in EV motors — and it added them to an export control list in April.
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's top negotiator in tariff talks with the U.S. speaks to reporters at the Japanese Embassy in Washington on Friday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 7, 2025

Japan won’t wait for G7 summit for possible U.S. trade deal

Trade discussions between Japan and the U.S. have "progressed” but have not yet reached a consensus on a deal to revisit sweeping U.S. tariffs, Tokyo's top negotiator said.
Morning commute traffic streams past the Meta sign outside the headquarters of Facebook parent company Meta Platforms Inc, in Mountain View, California, in 2022.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 12, 2025

Meta taps top researchers from Google and Sesame for new AI lab

The new group is part of an ambitious, and costly, effort by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to gain ground on rivals like Google and OpenAI.
Rare earths from Australia's Mount Weld mine. Japanese companies have a supply agreement with a company that sources rare earths from the mine.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Jun 16, 2025

Japan and the U.S. face challenges in economic security discussions

In their trade negotiations, the subject is much discussed, especially as rare earths become an issue.
Nippon Steel is buying United States Steel in a deal that gives the U.S. government a golden share in the U.S. steelmaker.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 16, 2025

Nippon Steel may have gotten the deal it wanted all along

The Japanese company has already committed to heavy investment in U.S. Steel and a U.S.-controlled board of directors at the American steelmaker.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (left) speaks to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on June 13.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 16, 2025

Nvidia's pitch for sovereign AI resonates with EU leaders

The concept for every nation to develop its own artificial intelligence is based on the idea that the language, knowledge, history and culture of each region are different.
SoftBank Group has sold 21.5 million T-Mobile U.S. shares for $224 each in an unregistered overnight block sale.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 17, 2025

SoftBank raises $4.8 billion through T-Mobile share sale

The Japanese technology giant sold 21.5 million T-Mobile shares for $224 each in an unregistered overnight block sale.
Japan will be the newest addition to the list of countries where TikTok Shop is available, which already includes the U.S. and the Philippines.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 17, 2025

TikTok Shop to launch e-commerce service in Japan as soon as this month

The service, already available in several other countries, allows users to purchase promoted products directly from the social media app.
Japan sees liquefied natural gas as vital to energy security.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 20, 2025

Japan seeks gas past 2050, with AI and data centers set to lift demand

The government expects a boom in artificial intelligence, data centers and semiconductor chip-making factories to revive power demand.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son at Donald Trump's resort in Florida in December last year
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 20, 2025

Masayoshi Son pitches $1 trillion U.S. AI hub to TSMC and Trump team

Son envisions a version of the vast manufacturing hub of China’s Shenzhen that would bring back high-tech manufacturing to the U.S.
A White House official said the United States is  "just laying the groundwork" for possibly revoking authorizations granted in recent years to global chipmakers Samsung, SK Hynix and TSMC to receive U.S. goods and technology at their plants in China, in case the trade truce reached between the two countries falls apart.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 21, 2025

U.S. may target Samsung, Hynix and TSMC operations in China

Revoking authorizations to receive U.S. goods and tech would make it difficult for foreign chipmakers to operate in China.
A checkout system equipped with a display showing a 3D avatar enables a Lawson employee to remotely help customers at an experimental Lawson store that opened Monday in Tokyo.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 23, 2025

Lawson beta tests futuristic convenience store with KDDI

Real x Tech Lawson utilizes a range of technologies, including robotics, digital signage and artificial intelligence.
Softbank has invested $15 million in a startup's climate monitoring stations that are designed to capture real-time data on wildfires, flooding and greenhouse gases.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 26, 2025

SoftBank backs startup building giant floating climate stations

The massive, bullet-shaped helium balloons will monitor climate data and bring connectivity to hard-to-reach areas.
Following domestic economic instability after the real estate market’s 2020 collapse, and global geopolitical uncertainty, wealthy Chinese have sought to establish bases in other countries, including Japan.
BUSINESS
Jun 26, 2025

Japan among most attractive Asian nations for uber-wealthy

The standard of living, health care, and safety and security make Japan attractive to wealthy Chinese expatriates, with Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe their main destinations.
Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg's controlling interest in the tech titan frees him to have the company invest heavily in artificial intelligence efforts.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 30, 2025

Meta spending big on AI talent but will it pay off?

OpenAI boss Sam Altman recently lamented that Meta has offered $100 million bonuses to engineers who jump to Zuckerberg's ship, where hefty salaries await.

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Ichiro Suzuki, one of the most iconic players in NPB and MLB history, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 99.7% of the vote.
With Hall of Fame induction, Ichiro makes himself heard loud and clear